Upcoming Events:
Feb. 18: Nebraska On-Farm Research Update, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Reg. 8:30), Hall County Extension, Grand Island
Feb. 18: Annie’s Project, 6 p.m., Extension Office, Geneva, RSVP: bvandewalle2@unl.edu
Feb. 18: Ag Land Management Webinar, 6 p.m., Register: https://agecon.unl.
Feb. 19: Nebraska On-Farm Research Update, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Reg. 8:30), Lifelong Learning Center, Norfolk
Feb. 19: Pesticide Training, 9 a.m. & 1 p.m., Extension Office, Lincoln
Feb. 19: Beef Profit Tips: Managing Strategies for the Cow Herd, 1 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wilber
Feb. 19: Dicamba Training, 1:30 p.m., Fairgrounds, Lexington
Feb. 19: Pesticide Training, 1:30 p.m., Fairgrounds, Franklin
Feb. 19: Dicamba Training, 4:30 p.m., Fairgrounds, Franklin
Feb. 20: Nebraska On-Farm Research Update, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Reg. 8:30), Valentinos, Beatrice
Feb. 20: Crop Budget Workshop, 9:30 a.m., Fairgrounds, Minden
Feb. 20: Pesticide Training, 10 a.m., Fairgrounds, Clay Center
Feb. 20: Pesticide Training, 1 p.m., Ag Park, Columbus
Feb. 20: Dicamba Training, 2 p.m., Fairgrounds, Clay Center
Feb. 20: Crop Budget Workshop, 2 p.m., Fairgrounds, Bladen
Feb. 20: Land Application (Manure) Training, West Point, larry.howard@unl.edu
Feb. 20: Land Application (Manure) Training, Lexington, bruce.treffer@unl.edu
Feb. 21: Chemigation, 1:30 p.m., Fairgrounds, Holdrege
Feb. 21: Pesticide Training, 2 p.m., Dick’s Place, Lawrence
Feb. 21: Land Application (Manure) Training, Columbus, aaron.nygren@unl.edu
Feb. 21: Pesticide Training, 6 p.m., Extension Office, Lincoln
Feb. 21-22: Women in Ag, Holiday Inn, Kearney. http://wia.unl.edu
We had our 4-H Festival tonight in York. 
Sometimes I need to be reminded how cool ag is and not take it so easily for granted. Watching the kids exclaim “that is so cool!” when looking at fungal spores under the microscope or seeing both youth and parents be amazed to see the root and early leaves with soybean dissection repeatedly brought a smile to my face. Any youth ages 6-18 are welcome to join me every month for Crop Science Investigation (CSI). At each meeting, the youth become detectives to solve a real-life problem about plants. Learning is hands-on, youth don’t have to be in 4-H to attend, and also can be from outside of York County. Our next meeting will be March 25th from 5-6 p.m. at the York Co. Extension Office and every third Monday of the month after that. Please contact me at jrees2@unl.edu to RSVP or for more information.
On-Farm Research Brainstorming Meeting: Last week I shared about on-farm research and the updates that are occurring this week throughout the State. Because we cover so many research projects at those updates, there’s not a lot of time for growers to just brainstorm and talk about projects they’re considering for this year. So, I’m having an on-farm research brainstorming meeting on Monday, February 25th from 10 a.m.-Noon at the 4-H Building in York. I will also provide lunch at Noon for those attending in person. We will also have a distance connection available for Extension Offices in other parts of the State and I can share that link with anyone who is unable to attend in person. Please RSVP to me (jrees2@unl.edu) if you plan on attending or if you would like to join us via weblink. Purpose: Brainstorm on-farm research topics to conduct this year and better determine who is interested in which studies to see if we can get several to conduct the same study. A number of growers have contacted me since harvest with project ideas. What has been shared thus far include: interseeding covers at V3-V5; biological products including some heard about during No-Till on the Plains; renewed interest in applying sugars; soy pop looking at impact on soybean stem borer; economics of lower corn pop with high flex hybrid under irrigation vs. current pop; second year for some on early vs. later maturity group soy planted early; Chris Proctor and my interest in small grain or other cover on soybean endrows (document palmer); comparison of sorghum vs. corn in non-irrigated setting looking at economics for Nebraska. Come with any topics you’re interested in discussing and looking forward to the discussion!
Soybean Seed Quality: The wet fall brought challenges with harvest and seed quality.
Purple Seed Stain (left) and Phomopsis Seed Decay (right). Photo by Jenny Rees, Nebraska Extension.
Not surprisingly, we’re hearing about reduced germination for soybean seed next year. There’s an article in this week’s CropWatch at http://cropwatch.unl.edu that goes into more details. Essentially in seeds infected with fungi causing purple seed stain and also phomopsis seed decay, reduced germination is occurring. Steve Knox, manager of the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association shared that while a few lots came in at or above 95% germination, results are averaging in the mid 80% range. In a typical year, soybean seed lots tested by the Nebraska Crop Improvement Association (NCIA) range from 88% to 98% germination. This year samples thus far ranged from 43% to 98% germination. The minimum germination for certified soybean seed is 80%, as set by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has set a minimum germination standard of 75% for soybeans. On a phone call, Steve mentioned that all the moldy and dead seed were removed from the samples before conducting germination tests. They did test the purple seed stained soybeans and found little to no germination reduction in infected seeds. Purple seed stain is seed transmitted; thus, if you have seed lots that are infected at planting, you may notice it at harvest as well. You may also have noticed soybean seed last fall that had very tightly wrinkled seed coats. This was due to the continual wetting/drying process beans went through with rain and wind events. Steve said soybeans with those characteristics didn’t germinate at all thus far but there’s few soybeans with those characteristics in most seed lots tested thus far. Iowa State research found that adding a fungicide seed treatment to lower quality seed could increase the germination percentage up to 15%. However, a fungicide seed treatment won’t improve germination of dead or dying seeds. Seed treatments should be considered when germination rates are below normal and when you’re planting into cold, wet soils. It’s important for growers to check the germination rate of soybean seed this year. Regarding any adjustments for seeding rates, when we conducted on-farm research soybean seeding rate studies, we did not adjust for the germ on the bag (seeded 90K, 120K, 150K, and 180K with no adjustments). However, every seed lot had at least 90% germ in those studies. We’re not recommending to adjust for 80-98% germ if the grower seeds 150K+ because there’s already enough seed planted without adjustment based on our research. However, those planting less than 150K may wish to consider adjusting this year if germination for their seed is in the 80-89% range.
